2.5 Billion-Pound US Meat Stockpile Nears Record High

Cold-storage meat warehouses are nearly full due to a decline in consumer demand for chicken, pork, and beef.

New figures released this week by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reveal that meat stockpiles in the United States are approaching a record high of more than 2.5 billion pounds. The excess meat products are kept in cold-storage warehouses, which are reaching capacity, according to The Wall Street Journal. While tariffs imposed by China and Mexico have dampened the ability of the US to export its animal products, the decline in domestic consumer demand has had a significant impact on the country’s growing stockpile of meat. Despite the near-record high stockpile, the United States Department of Agriculture estimates the industry will produce 102.7 billion pounds of meat this year, which will result in a significant profit loss for farmers who will scramble to sell it at a deep discount. Meanwhile, as dairy consumption plummets—which is down by 22 percent from 2006 to 2016, according to a recent report by animal-feed company Cargill—over-abundance of dairy products continues to accumulate, with cheese stockpiles hitting a record high of 1.39 billion pounds earlier this year.